I went to the so-called ‘steroid Olympics,’ to understand why Silicon Valley is obsessed with peptides

The Enhanced Games in Las Vegas let athletes compete while openly using steroids, testosterone, peptides, and growth hormone under medical supervision.

The event is tied to Silicon Valley investors and startup-style thinking, with figures like Peter Thiel and Balaji Srinivasan linked to the broader human-enhancement movement.

Supporters frame it as a new model for performance and biotech, while critics say it undermines anti-doping rules and raises safety and ethics concerns.

Sports regulators such as the World Anti-Doping Agency and U.S. Anti-Doping Agency have strongly criticized the concept.